Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Average)
Address: Lot 23, Level UG, Paradigm Mall, Skudai Hwy, Taman Bukit Mewah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
(Located within Paradigm Mall)
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3ddB8KS2RgBNtRQp7
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
🐔 A3 Thigh Drummy Rice = RM14.00
🥤 Z61 Teh O Kosong Ice = RM5.00
Service Charge 10% = RM1.90
Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.
This was a Relatively New Eatery in Paradigm Mall. Well, not really new, they opened since Oct 2024. Still new that, they don't have any Online Presence, 🤔 not even a Google Map Entry 😅 and I had to help them create one for this Review. In case Google Maps does not show this info, like all Mall Eateries, they're open Everyday 10.00am to 10.00pm. 🕒
Interior of the Eatery
Located at Level 2 right beside Hidangan Formosa Naruwan that I featured in my Last Review, there is a Very Genki Welcoming Lady enthusiastically inviting Customers. 😀 As I observed her, she is so effective, she actually was able to invite noticeably more Customers than other Eateries at the Same Level that I can see. 🤔
The Place itself is Relatively Large and Cleanly Maintained with both Indoor and Outdoor Seatings. Ordering of Food is thru QR Code, but if you want, you can order directly. 👍 It took about 4 Mins for Everything to be served up together.
🥤 Z61 Teh O Kosong Ice = RM5.00
Zero Sugar. Nothing particularly Special though.
It had a Decently Gao Tea Taste and Not Diluted.
🐔 A3 Thigh Drummy Rice = RM14.00
When this was first served up, my First Impression is that the Amount of Food don't look alot. 🤔 Perhaps this is because they served their Rice in a Bowl instead of a Plate which I felt was slightly unusual for a Chicken Rice Eatery. 🤔 As with any Chicken Rice, the 3 Main Pillars are the Condiments, 🌶️ the Rice 🍚 and the Chicken, 🐔 so lets deep dive into each of them shall we?
Quality of the Condiments
Doesn't have that Familiar Classic Taste Profile you'd expect for a Chicken Rice Chilli. 🌶️🤔 My First Taste of it had a Noticeable Acidic Touch on my Tongue abit like the Bite of a Pineapple. 🍍
It has this Very Spicy Hit but quickly falls off and remains as a Gentle Lingering of Heat on my Tongue. 🌶️ There is a Mild Sourish Sweetish Profile to it. Interesting Style of Chilli for Chicken Rice.
🫚 Minced Ginger and Dark Soy Sauce
For a Dedicated Chicken Rice Eatery, I am disappointed that these 2 Classic Condiments were not served by Default and I had to ask for them. 🤔 When I tasted them however, I understand why.
The Minced Ginger 🫚 has an Elevated Level of Saltiness and has a Very Soft and Creamy Texture to it, not a Single Presence of Grittiness. 真的是打到懒懒. 😋 Ginger Presence is almost Non-Existent. So for people who like Minced Ginger but don't like it to be too Overly Gingery, this would be perfect for them. 👍
The Dark Soy Sauce they have here doesn't taste like Normal Versions you'd expect. 🤔 For one thing, it has a Very Noticeable Alcoholic 酒精 Presence to it? Tasted like 花雕酒 is added to this. 🤔 Very Unusual Interesting Taste for a Dark Soy Sauce. Probably Not Cheap Product.
Both the Minced Ginger and this Dark Soy Sauce got some standard and effort to them. 👍 No wonder they didn't serve these to Customers by Default to prevent Wastage.
🍲 Quality of the Soup
This was a Small Bowl and the Presence of Garlic is Very Noticeable. 🧄🤔 It is also Very Oily as you can see Splotches of Oil on the Surface. The Taste of this felt like is Chicken MSG Powder Flavouring mixed with Garlic. Bleh. 🤔
🍚 Quality of the Chicken Rice
Like I mentioned, it was quite Unusual to see Chicken Rice being served in a Bowl instead of a Plate for a Dedicated Chicken Rice Eatery. 🤔 Is this perhaps used as a Tactic to disguise the Amount of Rice given? 🤔 I thought the Rice Amount felt Decent and Acceptable though.
The Rice itself is not bad and Decently Fragrant. 😋 Bite Texture is not 粒粒分明, but neither is it Mushy but more like a Cross-Mix between the 2. 🤔 There is a Decent 鸡油香味 to it. and doesn't taste Bland or Plain. Not Super Elite Level, and I'd rate this as maybe Similar Average Quality compared to a SG Kopitiam.
🐔 Quality of the Chicken Meat
Presentation 卖相 is Acceptable but could be better. 🤔 Especially when I see Patches of Chicken Skin all over the Place. For a Dedicated Chicken Rice Eatery, I had expected more Effort in Presentation. 🤔 Moving on, the Meats themselves all sit in a Pool of Zhup. This Zhup was a Delightful Salty Sesame Oil Mix. 😋 This taste like the Same Type of Zhup that you'd normally get with 油菜. I liked that the Sesame Oil is not Overly Strong.
The Chicken Quality here is Certainly Overweight but not Obese. 😅 This is not the type of Fat Globules under the Skin type, but also not as Basic as a Kopitiam Level. Decently Tender and Juicy to the Bite with No Dryness, it is also Clean Tasting and Overly Chickeny. 👍 Adding that Zhup helped alot in enhancing this Chicken.
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
For the Price of RM5.00 (S$1.60) for this Teh-O-Kosong Ais, it wasn't particularly cheap. Decent and Acceptable, but also Unremarkable. 🤔
For the Price of RM14.00 (S$4.30) for this Chicken Rice Set also didn't feel Particularly Cheap for what this is. 🤔 Amount of Food given didn't really feel Very Value for Money. Taste-Wise this also isn't a Very Elite Level sort of Chicken Rice. 🤔 For a Dedicated Chicken Rice Eatery, I felt the Presentation could be Better for the Meat Cuts. 🤔 It was also rather unusual to serve Chicken Rice in a Bowl rather than a Plate.
What I found more interesting were their Minced Ginger and especially Dark Soy Sauce. 🤔 This is the 1st Dark Soy Sauce that has a Noticeable Alcoholic Presence of 花雕酒 that I've tasted. 🤔 Never thought Dark Soy Sauce and 花雕酒 can pair together like this. Pretty good idea Culinarily that I would incorporate in my Own Dishes in my Own Cooking. 👍
Don't let my Average Score turn you off from this Place. Although this was not an Elite Tier Super Amazing Chicken Rice, neither is it Trash. If you are craving for some Chicken Rice and are ok with the Prices on their Menu, I can still recommend to give this a Try as long as you keep your Expectations in Check. 🤔
